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Sara is joined live in the studio by First Dates maitre d' Fred Sirieix. He tells us about taking the show to Campania in Italy for the new series of the First Dates Hotel.

Sara sits in for Chris and is joined live in the studio by First Dates maitre d' Fred Sirieix. He tells us about taking the show to Campania in Italy for the new series of Channel 4's First Dates Hotel and how 80 couples have successfully found love in the show's London restaurant. Sara speaks to three early achievers who have been up and at 'em early doors plus there's thirty minutes of back to back hits in the Half Wower. Vassos is joined in the Sports Locker by 5 Live cricket reporter Henry Moeran and this morning's Pause For Thought comes from Rabbi Dr Harvey Belovski.

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Mon 8 Jan 2018 06:30

Music Played

  • Eurythmics

    Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

    • Our Friends Electric (Various Artists.
    • Telstar.
  • Naughty Boy & Joe Jonas

    One Chance To Dance

    • (CD Single).
    • Virgin Records.
  • The Rolling Stones

    (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

    • The Rolling Stones - Remastered.
    • Abkco.
  • Girls Aloud

    Can't Speak French

    • (CD Single).
    • Polydor.
  • Madonna

    Sorry

    • Celebration.
    • Warner Bros.
    • 11.
  • ABBA

    Does Your Mother Know

    • Abba Gold (40th Anniversary Edition).
    • Polar.
    • 015.
  • Manic Street Preachers

    International Blue

  • P!nk

    Get The Party Started

    • The Very Best Of All Woman 2003 (Var).
    • BMG.
  • OneRepublic

    Love Runs Out

    • (CD Single).
    • Interscope.
    • 4.
  • Bob Sinclar

    Love Generation (feat. Gary 鈥淣esta鈥 Pine)

    • Now 63 (Various Artists).
    • Now.
  • Burl Ives

    Ugly Bug Ball

    • Classic Disney Volume 1.
    • Walt Disney Records.
    • 1.
  • James Arthur

    Naked

    • (CD Single).
    • Syco.
  • Will Young

    Evergreen

    • (CD Single).
    • BMG/RCA.
  • Sugababes

    Push The Button

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.
  • The Beatles

    Can't Buy Me Love

    • The Beatles - 1.
    • Apple.
    • 005.
  • Irene Cara

    Flashdance... What a Feeling

    • Flashdance.
    • Casablanca.
  • George Michael

    Outside

    • George Michael - Ladies & Gentlemen.
    • Epic.
  • Bon Jovi

    Livin' On A Prayer

    • Music Of The Millennium (Various).
    • Universal Music Tv.
    • 1.
  • Fuzzbox

    Pink Sunshine

    • The Hits Album 10 (Various Artists).
    • Hits Album.
  • Rihanna

    Umbrella (feat. JAY-Z)

    • (CD Single).
    • Def Jam.
  • Sigrid

    Strangers

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.
  • Gwen Stefani & Akon

    The Sweet Escape

    • (CD Single).
    • Interscope.
  • Blancmange

    Living on the Ceiling

    • Saturday Superstore Replay Selection (Various Artists).
    • 麻豆约拍 Records.
  • Jess Glynne

    Hold My Hand

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.
  • Jessie Ware

    Your Domino

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.
  • Boyzone

    Picture of You

    • Hits Zone - The Best Of 97 (Various).
    • Polygram Tv.
  • Courteeners

    Not Nineteen Forever

    • CD SINGLE.
    • A&M.
  • Taylor Swift

    Gorgeous

    • reputation.
    • Big Machine.
  • Lighthouse Family

    Lifted

    • (CD Single).
    • Polydor.
  • Erasure

    Blue Savannah

    • (CD Single).
    • Mute Records.

Pause for Thought

Pause for Thought

Harvey Belovski, rabbi at Golders Green United Synagogue

It鈥檚 a new year 鈥 well a week in 鈥 and I鈥檓 in the middle of an amazing winter sabbatical.听 I鈥檓 truly grateful to my family, colleagues and community for enabling me to spend time away from work recharging.听 I鈥檝e discovered that there are two types of sabbaticals 鈥 the sabbatical to do something and the sabbatical from something.听 I鈥檓 having a sabbatical to write and read; my wife is having a sabbatical from me, and everyone is happy!

听During my time away, I鈥檝e been thinking about happiness and how elusive it can be.听 It鈥檚 not about riches or success 鈥 there are people with very little who radiate happiness, and wealthy, privileged people who are miserable.

听One of my favourite stories is about Zusha, a rabbi who lived in Poland 200 years ago.听 A man once went to his rabbi and asked him to explain the teaching 鈥 that we should bless God for the bad in same way as we bless Him for the good.听 The man found the idea absurd 鈥 how can we be grateful for troubles as well as joy?听 The rabbi said that Zusha would be able to answer the question, so the man found his way to his tiny hovel and knocked on the door.听 Zusha was beset by extreme poverty, hunger and serious illness, yet he was always cheerful, so he welcomed the man warmly.听 The visitor watched Zusha for a while and realised that his host embodied the teaching he found so hard to understand 鈥 Zusha was constantly thanking God, despite his dire circumstances.

听The visitor was intrigued 鈥 how did Zusha do it?听 He finally decided to ask his question, explaining that his rabbi had sent him for this purpose.听 Zusha looked the man in the face and said 鈥業t鈥檚 a good question, but how would I know the answer?听 Your rabbi should have sent you to someone who鈥檚 actually experienced suffering!鈥

听In this lovely tale lies a simple ancient idea.听 Ben Zoma, a junior rabbi, asked, 鈥榳ho is rich?鈥櫶 His answer, 鈥榮omeone who is happy with their lot in life鈥.听 Happiness is not an event, it鈥檚 a state of mind, one that may be achieved by people with very little but can elude the privileged.听 So happiness comes from mastering the art of appreciating and choosing to enjoy what we already have.听 And that is a life鈥檚 work.

Broadcast

  • Mon 8 Jan 2018 06:30

Farewell Chris Evans: The best bits from his last shows at Radio 2

After eight years of hosting the Breakfast Show, Chris Evans leaves Radio 2.

500 Words

麻豆约拍 Radio 2's story-writing competition for kids.